Exhaust fan



Jan. 21, 1964 M. slNcLAlR 3,118,364

EXHAUST FAN Filed Sept. .25, 1961 United States Patent O 3,118,364 EXHAUST FAN Melroy Sinclair, 7627 Lindbergh Drive, St. Louis, M0. Filed Sept. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 140,607 1 Claim. (Cl. 98-94) The present invention relates generally to exhaust fans, and more particularly to a novel exhaust fan for disposition in a window for moving air from a room, such as a bathroom, kitchen, or the like.

Many devices have been constructed for chan 'ng the air in bathrooms, and other relatively small places. Ho-weve-r, in the applicants experience, none of these has supplied the long-existing need of a simple, inexpensive, readily installable and removable, safe, highly effective device. Householders -in particular have long sought something that will exhaust the odors from a bathroom in an efficient manner, and yet neither block the window nor be an objectionable, highly unsightly addition to the room.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a solution'to the long existing problem, namely, an exhaust fan small of size, yet effective in its operation, which can be `disposed in a window or removed therefrom in a matter of a minute or two.

In brief, the presen-t novel exhaust fan includes a novel casing, a blower and a motor installed within the casing, a gravity-actuated valve normally closing an air passage, novel means for locating the casing on a window ledge, and means for sealing the casing in a selected position in the window.

Therefore, another object of the present invention lis to provide a novel exhaust fan which is particularly adapted for ready disposition in and removal from the window of a bathroom, or the like.

Another object is to provide a novel exhaust fan which is inexpensive `and light of weight, lso that it can be readily installed in and removed from the window of a bathroom, or the like, by the lady of the house, requiring no tools once the associated burglar lock is installed.

Another object is to provide a novel exhaust fan for bathroom windows, and the like, which incorporates a novel casing including an air discharge chute or passage in which is disposed `a simple, gravity-actuated flap valve.

Another object is to provide a novel exhaust fan for bathroom windows, or the like, which is quiet in operation, which can be readily installed in a window, which requires only a small cracking of the window so that forced removal of the fan would not provide an enlargement suicient for entry, which is highly effective in its exhaust operation, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages as set forth.

The foregoing and other objects land advantages are apparent from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a window of a bathroom, or the like, in which is installed in operative position an `exhaust fan incorporating the teachings of the present invention, said window being viewed from inside the room;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional View taken on substantially the line 2-2 orf FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional View taken on substantially the line 3 3 of FIGURE il;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the present novel exhaust fan looking at the side opposite that shown in FIGURE 3, the electric cord :being broken away for conservation of space;

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged substantially horizontal sectional view, illustrating the blower, motor and Hap Valve in top plan;

Patented Jan. 21, 1964 ice FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view take-n on substantially the line `6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 yis a still further enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the air exhaust chute of the casing and the gravi-ty ap valve;

iFIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, but with the gravity llap valve omitted;

FIGURE 9 is `a view similar to FIGURE 8, but looking at the other side of the air exhaust chute;

"FIGURE l0 is a front elevational view of the `gravity ilap valve; and

FIGURE l1 is an isometric view of a foam stutter strip used in sealing the window against the passage of air and other weather.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, 15 Iindicates generally an exhaust fan constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The exhaust fan 15 includes -a novel casing 16 of the conlgunation clearly shown in the drawings, including a base shell 18 and a side closure 20 removably maintained in position by screws 22. An air discharge chu-te 24 extending transversely of the exhaust fan 15 4is formed at one side ot the base shell 18. An

vexternd transverse rib 26 is formed on the shell 13 inwardly of the end of the chute 24, as is clear from FIG- URE 6. An yair intake .grill 28 is formed integral with one side of the shell 18.

Formed integral with and extending inwardly of the closure 20 are four spaced internally threaded posts 3l) on which is mounted a lfractional horsepower .motor 32 by means of screws 34. The motor 32 includes a rotor shaft 36, on an extension of which is mounted a cage type blower 38 by means of a hub 40, set screw 42, and end plate 44.

The closure Ztl also includes an inwandly directed recess 46 in which is mounted the actuating leve-r 48y of a toggle -switch 5t) operatively connected by suitable wires 52 to the ymotor 32. A cord 54 is l.also operatively connected into the motor 32 and switch Si), which has a plug 55 for connection to a source of power.

A gravity actuated llap valve 56 is pivotally mounted within the casing 16 at the inner end of the chute 24 by means of integral opposed projections 58 pivotally mounted -in opposed wells 60 and 62 in the sides of the shell 18 and the closure 20, respectively (FIGS. 8 and 9). The flap valve 56 is of light weight material, such as aluminum, so that it will assume readily and stay in the position of FIGURE 7 when the blower 38 is in operation. It is to be understood that the ap valve 56 closes the chute 24 when the blower 38 is not in operation, so that cold or hot air from the outside cannot back up through the exhaust fan 15 and into the room.

In FIGURES 13, Ithe exhaust fan `15 is shown mounted in the window y64 of a bathroom, or the like. As is clear from FIGURES l and 3, the exhaust fan 1'5 rests upon the sill 66 of the window 64 the chute 24 extending beneath the bottom of the lower sash 68 thereof. A sealing strip 70 is disposed on and stuck to the top of the chute 24 and is engaged by the bottom of the lower sash V68. A foam stuffer `strip 72 closes the space between the bottom of the lower sash 68 and the top of the sill 66. A foam :stuffer strip 74 seals the space between the lower sash 68 and the upper sash 76. A conventional burglar-proof latch member 7S is mounted on top of the lower sash 68 in eng-agement with one side of the upper sash 76 in the usual manner.

The exhaust fan 15 is shown mounted against one side of the window 64, although it can be shifted over to the right at least as far as the window handle 80, if desired. If moved towards the center of the window 64, as suggested, the stuffing 72, would, of course, be disposed on both sides of the exhaust fan 15.

It is manifest from the foregoing description of the dr wing that once the burglar lock 78 is installed on the lower sash 68, the exhaust fan 15 can be easily and readily installed or removed, as desired, by the housewife, No screws or other securing means are provided, and the foam or other type stutter strips 72, 74 are not glued or otherwise secured against removal.

It is also clear that the present novel exhaust fan fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor, thus satisfying the long-felt need for such a device. h

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that the changes in form of lthe elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are conteniplated as within the scope of the present invention, being limited only by the claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

In combination, an exhaust fan for windows comprising a easing, `a ridge extending downwardly from the bottom of said Casin-g disposed transversely thereof adjacent the inner end of the chute for locating the exhaust fan on a window sill, a motor mounted in said casing, a blower in said casing operatively connected to said motor, said casing including an exhaust chute extending outwardly from the base thereof, an air passage beneath said motor and blower communicating with said chute, an opening adjacent said blower for drawing air from the room into said casing, said casing being of a depth and size to rest upon a window sill substantially without extending into the room, a normally closed gravity actuated ilap valve in said exhaust chute, said valve being of lightweight material so as to open and remain open when said blower is in operation, said exhaust chute having a substantially horizontal area across the top for disposition beneath the bottom of a lower window sash, and sealing means on said substantially horizontal area for engagement bythe bottom of a lower sash, said exhaust fan being maintained in operative position in a window solely by engagement of the lower sash with said sealing means, the engagement of the bottom of the casing with the window sill, and the engagement of the casing rear above the chute with the lower sash.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,767 Hubbard Aug. 3, 1909 1,019,818 MeMurdie Mar. l2, 191112 1,028,221 Keith June 4, 1912 1,938,798 Bourne Dec. 12, 1933 2,297,050 Cotton Sept. 29, 1942 2,914,818 Pritzert Dec. 1, 1959 

